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hydrometer (high-DRAH-mih-ter)

Literally meaning "water measurer," a hydrometer is an instrument comprised of a vertical scale inside a sealed glass tube weighted at one end. It's used to measure the ratio (called SPECIFIC GRAVITY) of the density of a liquid (such as grape MUST or wine) to that of pure water. A hydrometer floats upright in liquid; the reading is taken where the liquid's surface hits the scale—and the hydrometer floats higher in denser liquid. In winemaking, a hydrometer has many uses including measuring a must's sugar content and calculating its potential ALCOHOL, determining how FERMENTATION is progressing and indicating when it's finished, gauging effervescence in SPARKLING WINES, and measuring a finished wine's alcohol level.
Related Links: specific gravity, must weight, fermentation, sparkling wine, alcohol
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc.
1995 based on THE WINE LOVER'S COMPANION,
by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst.

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